Iran's monthly steel products exports rise 60% yr/yr

Iran exported 584,000 tons of steel products during the sixth Iranian
calendar month of Shahrivar (August 23-September 22), which was 60 percent more
than the figure of the same month in the past year, IRIB reported on Wednesday
citing the data released by Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and
Renovation Organization (IMIDRO).

The data provided by IMIDRO also indicate that the country exported 3.4
million tons of steel products during the first half of this year (March
21-September 22), with three percent growth compared to the first half of the
previous year.

In a press conference on June 8, Iranian deputy industry, mining and trade
minister said the ministry has taken necessary measures to maintain the
country's metal exports despite the U.S. sanctions.

"We have established a special working group in the ministry which is closely
assessing the situation and making necessary arrangements to mitigate the impact
of the U.S. sanctions," Jafar Sarqini told the Tehran Times in the press
conference.

The official noted that it is expected for the exports from the country's mining
sector to, at least, reach the last year's $8.5 billion by the end of the
current Iranian calendar year (March 2020).

Also, during a meeting with the members of Iran Steel Association on August 25,
Iranian Industry, Mining and Trade Minister Reza Rahmani said the country has
achieved a proper self-reliance in steel industry.

Steel industry is one of the industries in which some good investment has been
made and today it has become a production advantage, the minister further
underscored.

Iran's annual steel production is planned to reach 45 million tons by the
Iranian calendar year 1400 (March 2021-March 2022), according to Sarqini.

On June 15, the official had announced that the country's annual crude steel
production is planned to reach 30 million tons in the current Iranian calendar
year.

He put Iran's crude steel production at 25 million tons in the past year.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Rahmani announced that industry and mining sectors of
the country have experienced a growth of 18 percent during the first half of the
current year.

Making the remarks during a ceremony to inaugurate a copper concentrate plant in
the northeastern city of Ahar, the minister said that the country has witnessed
a growth of 6.5 percent in crude steel output, 9.1 percent rise in production of
steel products, six percent increase in cement output, and 13 percent rise in
glass production during the first six-month of this year.